Self-serving store



Apr 3, 11923. 1 45mm G. C. GREENE ET AL SELF SERVING STORE Filed Aug. 4, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 WUWi WW.

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Patented A 3 1923.

GROVER C. GREENE, THOMAS OSCAR earenr TENNESSEE.

SELF-SERVING STORE.

Application filed August a, 1921. Serial No. 489,797.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we. Gnovnn C, GREENE, THOMAS O. TUNE, and Ronnn'r E. STAMPS, citizens of the United States, 'residing at Nashville, in the count-y of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Serving Stores, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in self serving stores and has as its general object to provide a novel arrangement of store fixtures such that customers may more conveniently serve themselves and with little likelihood of confusion or congestion in the aisles of the storeroom.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide in a self serving store, a novel arrangement of the checking or cashiers stat-ion such as to admit of a better display of the goods on sale to the view of a customer passing or entering the store and thus enable the tradesman to attract trade.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement such that customers entering the store may to a certain extent gain an idea of the nature of the articles carried in stock and the prices thereof before actually entering theenclosures wherein the selections are to be made so that it is likely that a customer will determine what articles are desired before actually reaching the display shelves or cases where the articles are stored or placed on sale.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the store arrangement embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical front to rear sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure llooking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3--3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates in general the storeroom within which various fixtures are arranged in accordance with the present invention, and the storeroom is bounded by side walls 2 and 3, a rear wall 4, and a front 5, the latter being preferably provided with display windows 6 and a doorway 7 through which the customers may enter, this doorway being closed by doors 8 of any desired type.

Tiers of shelves, showcases, cabinets, or other fixtures of like nature for the storage and display of articles of merchandise are arranged along the walls 2, 3 and -L of the storeroom and are indicated respectively by the numerals 9, 10 and 11.

The fixtures 9 preferably extend the entire length of the wall 2 as do also the fixtures 11 with regard to the wall 4. but the fixtures 10 extend from the rear end of the wall 3 to a point spaced from the store front 5, as best shown 1n Figure 1 of the drawing, and for the purpose of providing a lobby at the front of the storeroom at one side of the doorway t.

this lobby bein indicated by the numeral 12 and being filrnished with any suitablefixtures such for example as a bench or table 13.

The numeral 1-L indicates in eneral a checking and cashiers station whic 1 is preferably in the nature of a rectangular enclosure or counter located substantially midway between the side walls 2 and 3 of the storeroom and suitably spaced from the rear wall a and fixtures 11 to provide a passageway 15 between it and the said fixtures. A basket rack 16 is preferably provided at that side of the checking station counter which is located next adjacent the wall 2.

and a cash register and various other fixtures peculiar to the duties to be performed by cated the attendant at the station, and indiby the numeral 17 are provided upon the counter 14. The numeral 18 indicates a railing which extends longitudinally of the storeroom from that side of the doorway 7 which is adjacent the fixture 9, and parallel to said fixtures, and to a point suitably spaced in front of the checking station 14, a

passageway 19 being provided between the rear end of the rail 18 and the front of the checking station counter. Shelving or other similar fixtures, indicated by the numeral 20. is arranged within the storeroom between the railing 18 and the fixtures 9 and parallel to the two and this shelving extends from a point spaced from the store front 5 to a point terminating slightly forwardly of the rear end of the railing 18 so that between the shelving 20 and railing 18 there is provided a passageway 21; between the forward end of the shelving and the store front a passageway 22; and the fixtures and, between the shelving 9, a passageway 23. A railing 24 extends longitudinally of the storeroom from a point opposite the rear end of the railing 18, in a forward direction to a "Lab point opposite or slightly in advance of the forward end of the fixtures 10, where it is turned laterally and extends across the storeroom to the wall 3 and defines one boundary of the lobby 12, the forward portion of the railing 18, the wall 3, and the store front 5, constituting the other boundaries of the said labby. Shelving or other fixtures 26 is arranged within the storeroom to extend longitudinally thereof between and parallel to the railing 24 and fixtures l0 and this shelving extends from a point terminating short of the laterally curved portion 25 of the railing 24 to a point suitably spaced in advance of the rear end of the railing 24. Thus there is provided a passageway 27 between the shelving 26 and fixtures 10; a passagpway 28 between the forward end of t e shelving 26 and the portion 25 of the railrearwardly, as at 33, parallel and adjacent to one side of the checking station counter 14, as indicated by the numeral 34, and terminating at its rear end at a point spaced from the fixtures 11. Thus the extension 31- defines between it and the checking station 14 a passageway 34 and between its rear end and the fixtures 11 a passageway 35. Also there is a passageway 36 provided between the portioni33 of the extension 31 and the fixtures 10. i A partition railing 37 extends forwardly from the back of the checking station counter 14'and between the railings l8 and 24, as best shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and defines entrance and exit passageways 38 and 39 respectively which are c osed by a turn stile 40 except that by passing this stile. persons may enter the enclosed portion of the storeroom by way of the passage 38 and leave the same by way of the passage 39. In the first instance they pass the basket rack 16 from which they may select baskets or other containers for their purchases, and after making this selection pass along the passageways 21, 22, 23, 15, 35, 27, 28, 24 and 36, and again by the passageway 35 to the passageway34 and finally out through the exit passageway 39, previous to which their selections are checked and paid for at the checking station 14. 1

It will be evident and particularly by reference to Figure 1 that the checking station is located at the rear of the storeroom so that practically the entire front portion of the storeroom is devoted to the display of the articles of merchandise on sale, and prospective customers, before entering the enclosures within the storeroom, can pass along the passageway 30 and while doing so may view the goods displayed upon the shelves 20 and 26 with the result that to an extent at least they determine in their minds what purchases they intend to make before entering the enclosure defined by'the railings 18 and 24 and having made their decisions, there is less likelihood of congestion, and the service is expedited. Another advantage gained by locating the checking station at the rear of the storeroom rather than at the front as has heretofore been customary, lies in the fact that a store manager or other attendant in charge stationed at the counter 14 may better observe the conduct of customers and guard against theft or improper halndling of the articles of merchandise on sa e.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. In a self-serving store, a sales room having an entrance, an aisle extending from the entrance to a relatively remote point and substantially midway longitudinally between the side walls of the room, a checking station arranged opposite the end of the aisle and in spaced relation thereto, means dividing the aisle longitudinally at its said end and extending from the checking station toward the entrance a distance into said aisle whereby to define distinct entrance and exit passageways,- means controlling the passage of customers through the said passageways, article storage means extending longitudinally within the space at either side of the aisle and parallel thereto and to the respective wall of the room whereby to display the articles stored thereby to customers passing through the aisle and before their entry through the entry passageway, the said storage means defining a circuitous passageway at either side of the aisle and means extending from one side of the rear end of the aisle laterally and thence rearwardly and past one side of the checking station in spaced relation thereto to define an exit passageway through which customers must pass in leaving the sales room.

2. In a self-serving store, a sales room having an entrance, an aisle extending from the entrance to a relatively remote point and substantially midway longitudinally between the side walls of the room, a checking station arranged opposite the end of the aisle and in spaced relation thereto, means di'vidin the aisle longitudinally at its said end and extending from the checking station toward the entrance a distance into said aisle whereby to define distinct entrance and exit passageways, means conmenses trolling the passage of customers through will be displayed to customers passing 10 the said passageways, and article stora e through the aisle and before their entry means extending longitudinally Within t e through the entry passageway.

space at either side of the aisle parallel In testimony whereof we afiix our signathereto and to the respective wall of the tures.

room, the entrance and exit passageways being located rearwardly within the room be- GROVER C. GREENE. [1 s.] yond the rear ends of the article storage THOMAS OSCAR TUNE. [L.S.] means whereby articles stored by said means ROBERT E. STAMPS. [11. s.] 

